Siphon head

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a siphon head formed by three basic components constituted by a first part comprised by an interchangeable actuator head, a second part comprised by the safety closure of the container and a third part comprised by the valve system permitting dispensing the fluid contained into the bottle including a resilient material part constituted by a head joined to elastic memory members.

This application claims benefit of Argentinean Application No. 20050103127, filed on Jul. 27, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates to closing heads and actuators for bottles containing gasified liquids (soft drinks) which include dispensing valve means. Among these containers, there are those dispensing soft drinks and also those conventionally known as siphons. More particularly, the invention relates to a head formed by three basic components: a first part comprised by an interchangeable actuator head, a second part comprised by the safety closure of the container and a third part comprised by the valve system permitting dispensing the fluid contained into the bottle.

2. Description of Prior Art

Several embodiments of water soda siphons are used at present. Originally the siphon is comprised by a reinforced glass container, plugged at the mouth by a closure and an actuating body formed such that is has a tubular nozzle for dispensing the drink with an angled downwardly inclined nozzle and an arched lever, linked to an upper boss.

The closure and operating body houses a valve means, which is displaceable by means of the lever action, thus dispensing the gasified water under pressure, through a central glass tube extending to the bottom of the container.

The mouth of the container has an annular flange on which an annular diametrically divided piece having a thread by means of which the head is supported is fitted.

This kind of container, still used at present, was subject to several modifications from the addition of a reticular metal body, used as a shield against eventual explosions of the container, which took place relatively often, to completely metallic containers with an additional valve member allowing the user filling the bottle with water and then feeding the carbon gas contained in an additional container which may be threaded. Afterwards, containers completely made of plastics appeared, and also modifications in the actuating means provided in the operative body.

Some of the above embodiments have a cylindrical shape to be fitted inside the container mouth, housing the valve means, operated by means of an outer actuating mechanism.

Among prior art references, the following may be cited:

Argentine application P030102139 directed to “A metering valve for an aerosol container”. It comprises a cap and a valve housing into an inner cavity, wherein a compression spring is included having a valve joint closing said inner cavity, and a compressible seal member against the dispensing conduit closed by the valve joint. A lower surface of the annular flange with compressible sealing members and the annular edge form a seal therebetween dividing the lower cavity into a metering chamber and a separated filling chamber, permitting that only the product in the metering chamber be dispensed once a flow line for the product is established.

The above embodiment was specially designed for metering the contents of a container. These features do not interfere with the object of the invention, since, among other differences, it is fixed by a peripheral permanent flange which cannot be removed.

Industrial M. No. 62728 (Lebon, J. E.) “Dispensing head for soft drink containers”. The faceted head is a hollow polygonal body. The actuating means is a push button having access from the upper part with a determined arrangement.

Argentine patent No. 251,443 (Lebon, J. E.) “Valve for liquids under gas pressure”. The body is formed by mutually joined parts. An upper part, the cover being plugged at the upper part by a resilient membrane forming the push button, which is extended by a rod actuating the valve. An intermediate part, which is threaded to the container, providing the dispensing nozzle and a central portion on which the valve is seated and an inner part carrying a conical valve.

Argentine patent No. 250,291 (Roberto Jose- Pitocco), 0128-2003 “Improvements in valve heads for dispensing water soda in siphons claims a valve body with a central open channel, communicated with the nozzle forming the valve seat, the rod which crosses the central channel and is connected with a resilient membrane, shaped as a vaulted cap the edges of which seat against the valve body forming the upper seal. Above the cap there is the actuating lever bearing on an bore of a removable cap and exiting through an opposite bore, the lever being a second genus lever.

Argentine application P97 01 05091, Oct. 31, 1997 (R. J. Pitocco) “Improvements in valve dispensing heads, connectable to soft drinks bottles and other uses”. The actuating lever is foldable. It has a safety strap finishing the head. It comprises a valve system similar to that of patent 250,291. The lever formed by two foldable parts is linked and joined to the valve rod in the same way and has resilient elongated means. A double arched filament is shown positioned between a lever point near to the bearing point and an opposed point on the inner transversal wall. The body is threaded onto the bottle with a safety strap as a conventional ring.

Argentine application M98 01 02559, Jan 21, 1998 (SIDES S. A.) “Improvements in valve heads for soft drink bottles and other uses”. This is a simplification of P97 01 05091. It has the same resilient means. The articulated lever forms part of the upper part of the head released by the strap, integrating the covering cap which is mounted on the body carrying the valve and the dispensing nozzle.

The above references are based on the articulated lever, retainers and closure valve alternatives. They comprise actuating caps with their lever and rod and a valve means including the dispensing nozzle fixed to the container.

As mentioned, the above references do not anticipate the object of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a SIPHON HEAD comprised by three essential parts. The first part is the interchangeable operative head for actuating the valve means, which may be selected from the most appropriate arrangements in the art. The first part is fixed to the second part, i.e. the intermediate part, which provides means for fixing the first part and provides structural alternatives for forming the third part.

The second part has at the center of its transversal partition an bore flanked at the outside by an annular channel, the bore being interiorly provided with seat means for the valve constituting the third part, which is housed within a tubular interiorly threaded enclosure, formed in this intermediate part, coaxially positioned with respect to said bore. An embodiment of the invention contemplates that about at half height inside said tubular enclosure there are provided, annularly, means for retaining the valve. The third valve part is comprised by a body formed by a head with elastic memory forming the valve and retaining the fishing tube.

The main object of the invention is a novel and efficient structure, of the kind represented by a valve means included within the mentioned head fixed by means of threads in the container neck which, apart from constituting the tight seal thereof, provides an actuator member acting on the valve means for dispensing the contents via the internal pressure, affording the particular feature that the actuating head is comprised by a device selected among different arrangements, thus being interchangeable.

A further object of the invention is an optimized siphon head in which the second of its component parts comprises an efficient safety closure for the container containing a pressurized soft drink, with the particularity that the third component part of the valve means is mounted on the structure thereof, such that by mounting the first component part on said safety closure, an interchangeable actuating means is provided, with which the soft drink is dispensed through an ejecting element, directly operating with said interchangeable means on said integral valve means.

Consequently, the object of the instant invention is a head to be particularly applied to containers known as siphons, threaded as a closure for the container which is filled with a pressurized soft drink of any of the existing types, including the popular siphons containing soda water. These particular containers are provided with a nozzle for dispensing the drink in reply to the actuating means operating on the plugging valve element wherein the part joining all these elements forming a single head has been improved, being replaced by independent assemblies from which one is the actuating means, provided in some cases with an actuating lever and a dispensing nozzle, the second assembly is comprised by the plugging means tightly joined to the container, the third being the valve member which, once actuated, allows dispensing the contents of the bottle into which it is stored under pressure. Therefore the invention comprises, with one of its component parts, a double purpose closure means, constituted by a symmetric rotating body excellent for an easy manufacture, whose features, apart from being removable by means of threads, is capable of incorporating different actuating means, completely independent from the valve system, which constitute a constructive alternative of the head of the invention which is the incorporation of said actuating means with the dispensing nozzle in its structure, the operative portion of the head being an additional interchangeable member.

Another advantage of the siphon head of the invention is the simplification of the operating processes used at present in the filling plant, which are optimized due to the development of a revolution body for forming the closure and plugging core of the discharge conduit of the pressurized fluid within the container, also optimizing the daily activity carried out for the previous threading of the plugging body including the valve on the container, filling at the plant with the pressurized drink and further handling during storing and delivery of the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section, with the component parts separated therebetween, of the arrangement described.

FIG. 2 is an elevation schematic section of the siphon head, shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1, placed on the mouth of the container filled with the beverage.

FIG. 3 shows a pair of alternative embodiments of the assembly formed by the second and third parts constituting the head of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is another alternative embodiment of the head of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows alternative embodiments of the fasteners used for maintaining valves in their place.

FIG. 6 shows some alternative embodiments for manufacturing the valve means included in the cover.

FIG. 7 shows possible structures for the closure incorporated in the cover and for the inner and outer fit of the actuating means of the valve means.

In the above figures the same reference symbols designate the same or corresponding parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first part of the head is comprised by the actuator body 1 provided with serrated fitting fillets 2 which interact with equivalent fillets 3 the second part 4 used for the safety plugging of the container E. It is provided with ejector nozzle 5, prolongation of a vertical tubular portion 6, and with the actuating lever 7 linked to the axial rod 8 pushing the valve means.

The second cylindrical part 4 is provided with inner thread 9 intended to interact with the thread at the mouth of container E. At the transversal partition 10 forming part of the hollow cylindrical body of the second part of the head, there is an axial bore 11 flanked by an annular channel 12.

The bore 11 is surrounded, at the outlet, by an annular rib ending as a point 13, as component part of a first seal, which directed towards the interior of the cover ending coaxially into a cylindrical enclosure 14 partially occupying the larger portion of the inner space 15 of body 4. Said cylindrical enclosure 14 is interiorly provided with a thread fillet 16 where the valve means 17 is threaded by means of fillets 18 provided on its body.

The third part of the head is the valve means comprised by a piece 17 of resilient material complying with sanitary standards. It has a half sphere shaped head having its plugging seat 19 the top, formed with a semicircular central depression limited by the elevated flange, this portion being partially introduced into bore 11 thus forming the first tight seal. In an analogous way, it follows a hollow cap, with radial 90° crossed ribs, 20, (which function as a spring for resetting the closure of seat 19 against tapered annular rib 13 when operation of the valve finishes) and an inner disk member 21 provided with a sharp shoulder 22 adjacent its contour edge, which functionally cooperates with a triangular fillet 23 projecting inside body 14. This arrangement constitutes a second seal means for avoiding eventual gas losses. The valve means ends with an outer faceted ring 24 as shown by A in the figure.

The resilient valve means is engaged by a snap fit at the upper end of conventional fishing tube 25 extending to the bottom of the container. This joint is reinforced by grooves 26 provided inside the valve body 17.

The head may be completed in the second part 4 with annular skirt 27 inside which there are angularly arranged projecting retaining members 28 distributed annularly. This annular skirt is used to be fastened to mouth E of the container. It forms a safety strap which is cut when the head is unthreaded.

On said second part 4 the first part is fitted, constituted by the operative member 1 carrying the dispensing conduits formed by the nozzle of siphon 5 and vertical piece 6 which is tightly adapted to channel 12, apart from the articulated lever 7 for actuating the pusher rod 8 of the closure valve 17.

FIG. 3 shows a pair of alternatives for locating the mutual fitting means 2, 3 for obtaining a firm engagement between the first 1 and second 4 parts forming the head.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond to an upper end fitting.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 a corresponds to the same kind of fitting, this time as an inner fitting 2′, 3′, and that of FIG. 3 b is a side outer fitting 2″, 3″.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment for the head wherein the actuating lever 7 is articulated inside the practically spherical upper part 1′ with axial rod 8 which may be displaced within the vertical conduit 6. The free end of the rod is far from the valve means 19 to prevent that eventual friction on lever 7 could result in beverage discharge. The remaining components are the same in this embodiment.

While the fastening means inside cylinder 14 of the second part 4 are attained, as shown in FIG. 5 a, by means of a diameter restriction constituted by an annular flange 29 which as shown in 5 b adds a small elevated peripheral flange to the annular restriction. In 5 c, it is constituted by a triangular channel 30, in 5 d it is a square section channel 31. In 5 e restriction 32 annular member is larger with increasing section, while in 5 f all the valve member 17 is formed by a cylindrical body 33 threaded to cylindrical wall 14, modified with a smaller height and threaded at the outside. This body includes prolongation 34 as a support for the fishing tube 25.

FIG. 6 shows different configurations of the closure elastomeric member. For example that designated -a-. Other alternatives show various resilient structures for the valve closure member 17. They have a head 19′, which is substantially frustoconical and offer different arrangements for the complementary elastic memory member which also maintains such arrangements against the respective seat 13, in the direction of the internal pressure inside the container.

In the cases shown in FIG. 6, designated -a-, -d- and -f- and in FIG. 7 -a-, the seat formed partition 10 is frustoconical and its diameter decreases upwardly. Cases designated -b-, -c-, -e-, -g-, -h- and -i- part of that shown in FIG. 7 -b-, the seat is a triangular fillet 13 surrounding bore 11 which forms he outlet conduit for the beverage stored into the container.

In FIG. 6, alternative 6 a, in the closure means 17, resilient means provided adopt a shape 35 such as polygonal bellows joined therebetween and having a bearing disk. In FIG. 6 b they are lentil shaped, in 6 c they have resilient arms, in 6 d the cross, in 6 e they are arched, reticulated as in 6 f, with a half-sphere shape in 6 g and in 6 i they are lobe shaped having the disk support as a peripheral wedge, and any other possible shape affording the optimum elastic reaction for maintaining the outlet conduit 11 tightly plugged the direction of the internal pressure of the stored fluid mixture.

An interesting form, already described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and also shown in FIG. 6 h is a valve member the body of which is prolonged in the form of a cylinder threaded to the interior of the cylindrical body 14, being fixed and centered. Its opening will be produced by deformation and not by the displacement of the whole body of the valve.

Mention to the closure members is completed with the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 b, where channel 12 has been replaced by a cylinder 12′ which elevates around bore 11.

Operation

Functional relationship of the different components is very simple. It is the result of the integration of the three main parts of the head. A first operative removable part, i.e. interchangeable. A second plugging part with collapsible safety means. A third part including the valve means controlling dispensing of the fluid from container E.

Once container E is filled and properly plugged by means of the head fastened through thread 9 to the container neck, the safety seal comprised by skirt 27 is simultaneously mounted by means of the angular projections 28 which fit below the annular rib 36 provided around said neck.

The first part is located in the correct position by grooves 2 and 3 or variants thereof, rod 8 traversing bore 11 and tubular prolongation 6 fits inside channel 12 provided as centering guide in the transversal partition 10 of the second component part of the head.

Channel 12 surrounding bore 11 allows optimum adaptation of the vertical outlet conduit 6 housing the actuator operated by lever 7. Said actuator rod 8 faces concavity 19 of the valve means.

When using the siphon, this is done in the known manner, i.e. actuating lever 7 which descends the actuator rod 8 which pushes the valve head 19 against the elastic memory member added to the inner pressure. In this way, the head separates from the tapered seat 13 which allows dispensing liquid through the fishing tube 25 propelled by the pressure of the carbon anhydride gas contained in the beverage.

When lever 7 is released, valve means 17 returns to its normal closure position, being ready for the next use.

It is to be noted that the siphon head of the invention allows filling of container E even if previously plugged with such head, introducing the gasified liquid through bore 11 pressing the valve seat 13.

The invention not only affords an easy and economic way of manufacturing the closure cover, but it also affords a benefit in what concerns to hygiene of the product stored, which in this case does not depend on the conventional replaceable head.

The above description discloses some constructive alternatives for carrying out the invention and the operation thereof, the scope being only determined by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. Siphon head, of the kind applied to gasified beverage containers in which an actuating means of an inner valve and a nozzle for dispensing fluid are provided, characterized in that the head is comprised by three main parts from which a first part constitutes the interchangeable actuating body, which is rigidly engaged with the second safety plugging part of the container in which the third part defined by the valve system is comprised, wherein the first interchangeable actuating first part carries the dispensing conduits and the articulated lever for actuating the pushing axial rod of the plugging valve, adjustable on the transversal partition of the second plugging part, on means provided around the central bore which is crossed thereby, ending inside a cylindrical enclosure which is interiorly threaded, which partially occupies the interior of the second component part; said second component part comprising a revolution body which is interiorly threaded as a fixing means to the container neck, including safety means in said cylindrical enclosure located inside the second component part which is supported by fixing means to the third part comprising a valve system, wherein the elastomeric hollow body of the valve is formed by a head carrying a first plugging seat engaged to a disk member carrying a second plugging seat, being said hollow body provided at the outside with means for mounting to said cylindrical enclosure and having a grooved inner cavity as a means for retaining the fishing tube.
 2. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part constituting the interchangeable actuating body is rigidly engaged to the second safety plugging part by means of respective fittings.
 3. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said elastomeric hollow body comprising the valve is provided in the outside with means for mounting to said cylindrical enclosure which are constituted by thread fillets.
 4. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said seating means of the valve means provided in said bore comprise a frustoconical widening towards the interior of the cylindrical enclosure wherein the frustoconical head of the valve fits tightly.
 5. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical enclosure positioned coaxially following said bore occupies the larger portion of the inner space of the cover, and its lower part is comprised by several serrated rings which provide a fastening means for the conventional fishing tube of the siphon extending to the container bottom.
 6. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterize in that said means provided around the central bore of said transversal partition, for fixing the vertical dispensing conduit and traversed by the pushing axial rod, comprise an annular guiding channel within which said dispensing conduit is mounted.
 7. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical enclosure inside the second part of the had is supported by fixing means to the third part constituting the valve system, wherein said fixing means comprise a disk flange restricting the inner diameter the cylindrical body, further including a small elevated flange around its contour.
 8. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in said cylindrical enclosure located in the interior of the second component part of the head, the third part comprising the valve system is supported by fixing means, wherein said fixing means comprise an angular notch cooperating with the retention means provided in the valve means obtained by a disk shaped body having a wedge shaped edge.
 9. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in said cylindrical enclosure located in the interior of the second component part of the head, the third part comprising the valve system is supported by fixing means, wherein said fixing means comprise a disk shaped flange restricting the inner diameter of the cylindrical body.
 10. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said valve is comprised by resilient material part formed by a frustoconical head which fits as a tight seal inside the cylindrical enclosure, such that its head fits on the frustoconical seat provided in the cover, wherein the head is joined to elastic memory members formed as arched arms, which are locked and retained in their position by means of the peripheral flange included in said disk shaped flange.
 11. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said valve is comprised by a resilient material part formed by a frustoconical head is joined to elastic memory members, which may be selected between said arched resilient arms, crossed resilient arms, polygonals joined to each other, reticulated, lentil shaped and any other possible shape, affording the optimum elastic reaction for maintaining the outlet conduit tightly plugged in the direction of the internal pressure of the fluid mixture stored in the siphon.
 12. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said first part comprised by an interchangeable operative body actuating the valve means may be selected from any convenient arrangement.
 13. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said third component part comprised by the valve system is comprised by a resilient material part formed by a head carrying the tight seat which is joined to elastic memory members.
 14. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said safety means included in the second component part comprise an annular skirt inside which angular projecting retaining members are annularly distributed.
 15. Siphon head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fitting means between the first and the second part are, preferably, serrated grooves the location of which is to be selected among an upper end fit, an inner fit and a side outer fit. 